Joe's Pub to Present EPIC VILLAINS: A WICKEDLY INCLUSIVE CABARET for Halloween

EPIC Players, New York's leading neuro-diverse theatre company, will thrill audiences this spooky season for two performances of EPIC Villains: A Wickedly Inclusive Cabaret at the iconic entertainment venue Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. The shows will take place on Sunday, October 24th and Monday, October 25th, both at 8:00pm. Each night will feature a different performance, with special guests and show stopping numbers. EPIC Players will perform songs to honor everyone's favorite villains, monsters, and everything in between this Halloween. Audience members are encouraged to attend in costume. Audiences are encouraged to come both nights for unique treats.

EPIC has just announced that Broadway actors Ben Bogen from Frozen and Gaelen Gilliand who has appeared in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical will accompany the previously announced Broadway contributors Amaker Smith, a Julliard BFA who thrilled audiences in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, as well as the Muny Production of Hairspray and the National Tour of Dreamgirls; Haley Swindal, whose Broadway credits include Chicago! and Jekyll and Hyde and Willy Falk, who was nominated for a Tony Award as the original "Chris" in Miss Saigon.

"During my career, I am introduced to a new 'family' every show" said Falk, of his work with EPIC. "Meeting the EPIC Players, I feel the satisfaction of working in a respectful environment without losing the pure, unbridled joy of performing. .

EPIC Players-which stands for empower, perform, include, and create-is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit theatre company founded five years ago to provide opportunities for performers with developmental disabilities to represent themselves on stage and screen. EPIC seeks to use the performing arts as a vehicle to empower artists with developmental disabilities and pioneer increased inclusion in the arts.

"As someone once said, a villain is just a hero whose story just hasn't been told yet," said Aubrie Therrien, Executive Artistic Director at EPIC Players. "Our performers will not just entertain with songs and costumes but take audiences on an emotional journey, considering these new perspectives from some of culture's most compelling characters."

Therrien serves as the director of EPIC Villains, Scott Evan Davis and David Andreana are music directors, and Codi McGarry is assistant director.

During both evening's shows, EPIC Players will perform songs from everyone's most beloved villains. Among the highlights are Swindal and EPIC Player Shayna Goldberg performing "Poor Unfortunate Souls" from The Little Mermaid, Bogan and EPIC Players Imani Youngblood and Jared Bazemore performing a medley of "Thriller" and "Heads will Roll" made famous by Michael Jackson and the Yeah Yeah Yeah's respectively, Falk performing "Professional Pirate" from Muppet Treasure Island with EPIC Players Gianluca Cirafici, Ari Sloan and Preston Burger, Gilliland performing rock standard "I Put A Spell On You" with EPIC Players Samantha Elisofon, Jordan Boyatt and Kylie Hogrefe, Smith performing "Be Prepared" from The Lion King with EPIC Player Andrew Kader and professional vocalist Tavonna Miller performing "I Want To Be Evil" made famous by Eartha Kitt with EPIC Player Giden Pianko.

The performances will also include re-imagined Pop/Rock classics like "Bad Guy", and "Symphony for the Devil," chilling Broadway standards from "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Sweeney Todd," and more.

The cast features EPIC Players' members: Andrew Kader, Alexander Michael Reeves, Amanda DeLalla, Ari Sloan, Christine Newberry, Claire Mercier, Conor Tague, Ellie Sondock, Gianluca Cirafici, Gideon Pianko, Henry Houghton, Imani Youngblood, Jared Bazemore, Jesus Chevez, Jordan Boyatt, Katherine Tepan, Kathryn Cristofano, Kylie Hogrefe, Laisha Gonzalez, Mickey McGrath, Nada Smith, Natalie Kaiser, Nick Barberio, Nick Moscato, Preston Burger, Samantha Elisofon, Shayna Goldberg, Wells Thorne, and Zach Labbadia.

Tickets are $35 (there is a two-drink or $12 food minimum, per person, during shows). Visit https://publictheater.org/productions/joes-pub/2021/e/epic-players/ for tickets and more information. Joe's Pub and The Public Theater do require proof of full COVID vaccination and for masks to be worn inside the venue. For more information click here.

Photo Credit: LeVue Photography